17 activities
Finger Grasp Game
Place your finger in your baby's palm and feel their reflexive grip.
1. With your child lying on their back, gently stroke the back of one hand to encourage it to open.
2. Slowly place your index finger across their palm.
3. Feel your child's fingers curl around yours — this is the palmar grasp reflex.
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Easy
Wrist Rattle Discovery
Attach a soft wrist rattle and watch your baby discover their own hands.
1. Place a soft, lightweight wrist rattle on one of your child's wrists.
2. Lay them on their back in a comfortable, alert position.
3. Watch as they move their arm and notice the sound — you may see them pause and look toward their hand.
... See full activity in the app
Soft wrist rattle
Moderate
Midline Hand Meet
Help your baby bring their hands together at the center of their body.
1. Lay your child on their back on a flat, comfortable surface.
2. Gently take both of their hands in yours.
3. Slowly bring their hands together to meet at the center of their chest.
... See full activity in the app
Moderate
Palm Tickle Massage
Gently massage and stroke your baby's palms to awaken hand awareness.
1. During a calm, awake moment, hold one of your child's hands gently in yours.
2. Using your thumb, make slow circles on their palm.
3. Gently stroke from the base of each finger to the fingertip.
... See full activity in the app
Easy
Dangling Toy Swat
Hang a colorful toy within reach and encourage your baby to bat at it.
1. With your child lying on their back, hold or hang a colorful toy about 8-10 inches above their chest.
2. Gently move the toy to catch their attention — they should track it with their eyes first.
3. Wait patiently for any arm movement toward the toy. Even a random swipe counts!
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Colorful hanging toy or play gym
Moderate
This Little Finger
Unfurl your baby's fingers one by one with a gentle counting game.
1. Hold one of your child's fisted hands gently in yours.
2. Starting with their thumb, gently unfurl each finger one at a time.
3. As you open each finger, give it a gentle wiggle and count: "One little finger... two little fingers..."
... See full activity in the app
Easy
Soft Grip Hold
Place a soft ring or fabric toy in your baby's hand and let them practice holding on.
1. Choose a lightweight, soft fabric ring or thin rattle that is easy for tiny fingers to wrap around.
2. Gently open your child's hand and place the toy across their palm.
3. Their grasp reflex will help them hold on — let them feel the weight and texture.
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Lightweight fabric ring or thin rattle
Moderate
Sticky Mittens Play
Use Velcro mittens and toys to give your baby the thrill of "catching" an object.
1. Place soft Velcro-covered mittens on your child's hands.
2. Hold a small Velcro-covered toy about 4-6 inches in front of them.
3. Encourage them to move their arms — when a mitten contacts the toy, it will stick!
... See full activity in the app
Velcro-covered baby mittensSmall Velcro-covered toys
Advanced
Hand Watch
Help your newborn discover their own hands by bringing them into view.
1. Lay your child on their back in a well-lit room.
2. Gently lift one of their hands into their line of sight, about 8-10 inches from their face.
3. Slowly wave their hand back and forth: "Look! That's YOUR hand!"
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Easy
Cloth Pull
Place a lightweight cloth in your baby's hand and let them grip, pull, and feel the resistance.
1. Choose a very lightweight cloth — a thin muslin, a handkerchief, or a small receiving blanket corner.
2. Gently touch the cloth to your child's palm to trigger the grasp reflex.
3. As they grip, hold the other end with light tension.
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lightweight cloth or muslin
Moderate
Fencing Explorer
When your baby turns their head to one side, draw attention to the hand that extends outward.
1. Lay your child on their back.
2. Watch for the natural "fencing" reflex — when they turn their head to one side, the arm on that side extends.
3. When you see the extended arm, gently touch or tap the outstretched hand: "Look at your hand!"
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bright toy
Advanced
Pre-Reach Practice
Hold an interesting object within view and watch your baby's arms move toward it.
1. Support your child in a slightly reclined position (propped on your lap or a bouncy seat).
2. Hold a colorful, interesting object about 8 inches in front of them, slightly to one side.
3. Keep it still and within their visual focus.
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colorful object
Advanced
Hand to Mouth
Gently guide your baby's hand to their mouth to support self-soothing and oral-motor awareness.
1. When your child seems fussy or is sucking on nothing, gently guide their hand toward their mouth.
2. Support their wrist and bring the back of their hand or fingers to their lips.
3. Let them suck or mouth their own hand if they want to.
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Advanced
Open Hand Stretch
Gently encourage your baby to open their fists by stroking the back of their hand.
1. Newborns naturally keep their hands in fists much of the time. This activity encourages opening.
2. Gently hold your child's forearm.
3. With your other hand, softly stroke the back of their hand from wrist to fingertips.
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Advanced
Rattle Shake Assist
Place a rattle in your baby's hand and gently help them shake it, connecting movement to sound.
1. Choose a lightweight rattle that fits in your child's small hand.
2. Touch it to their palm to trigger the grasp reflex — they should grip the handle.
3. Once they're holding it, gently move their hand back and forth to shake the rattle.
... See full activity in the app
lightweight rattle
Advanced
Two Hand Touch
Guide both of your baby's hands to feel a single object simultaneously.
1. Choose a safe object large enough for both hands: a soft ball (3+ inches), a plush toy, or a rolled cloth.
2. Lay your child on their back.
3. Gently bring both of their hands to the object, one on each side.
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soft ball or plush toy
Advanced
Finger Unfurl
Gently open baby's fists and stroke their palms
1. Gently take your child's closed fist.
2. Softly stroke the back of their hand until the fingers relax.
3. When the hand opens, stroke the palm: "Open hand!"
... See full activity in the app
Easy